Event News

RETAIL LEADERS TO DEBATE ECONOMIC CRISIS SOLUTIONS

– Industry figures from across the globe set to attend the World Retail Congress as retailers face the most challenging market conditions for more than twenty years –

As businesses throughout the globe continue to battle the toughest economic conditions in recent memory, the World Retail Congress has announced that it is expecting an unprecedented number of the world’s most senior retail industry figures to gather at the annual event this May.

With three months to go, the Congress has witnessed a big increase in the number of confirmed attendees by comparison to the same stage last year.  As it becomes increasingly clear that as the current business challenges are the direct consequence of a new integrated global economy, so too are the solutions.  Retailers can no longer afford to operate or think in isolation, and will congregate in Barcelona to collectively debate the strategies that will see them safely through the consumer spending famine and position their businesses for long term stability and growth. 

More than 100 leading retail figures will speak at the Congress this year, drawn from a diverse range of industry sectors and international markets.  Attendees are set to hear from such luminaries as Allan Leighton, Deputy Chairman of George Weston, Vittorio Radice, CEO of La Rinascente, Bob Willett, CEO of Best Buy International, John Donahoe, President and COO of eBay and Philip Clarke, International Director of Tesco. There will also be leading speakers from the key emerging retail markets including China, India, Russia and Brazil.

The World Retail Congress has welcomed more than 2,000 retail leaders since its launch in 2007, and has quickly established itself as one of the most important events in the retail calendar, with leading industry figures drawn together to resolve the most crucial global issues. 

This year, the discussions promise to be the most challenging yet, as retailers address a wide range of business critical issues, such as driving growth in international markets, the science behind innovation, the people agenda, e-commerce, the changing consumer and maximising business efficiencies.

The programme has been set in extensive consultation with the industry and the Congress Advisory Board, which includes some of the era's most inspirational retailers, ranging from O Boticario to Myer, Mango, Harvey Nichols, Tesco, and Gap.

The World Retail Congress will once again meet at Barcelona’s flagship convention centre, the Centro de Convenciones Internacionales de Barcelona (CCIB), from 6 to 8 May 2009.  The Congress is organised by Emap Communications, in association with key sponsor, Deloitte.

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For further information, please contact FD:
Victoria Wallin, + 44 (0)20 7269 9360
Tanya Bolton, +44 (0)20 7269 7296
Or email wrcenquiries@fd.com

Notes to editors:

WORLD RETAIL CONGRESS 
Created in direct response to the demands of retailers, and supported by major international players including Tesco, Carrefour, Ikea, Alshaya, and Best Buy, the World Retail Congress will once again bring together the world’s retail leaders for high-level debate with international policy makers.

The aim is to drive growth in the global retail economy, promote the benefits of global retail excellence and gain sustainable, competitive edge in domestic and international markets. With thousands of key retail professionals and politicians expected to attend, the focus will be on discussing and influencing the issues for change.  Further details are available online at www.worldretailcongress.com or by emailing info@worldretailcongress.com.